MINI has revealed its stunning Superleggera Vision at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como. This sports car concept was produced in partnership with Italian coachbuilders, Touring Superleggera, and shows that MINI is planning to ditch the Coupe and Roadster models in favour of a sports car with unique styling.
Its brilliant design is inspired by the latest MINI hatch and it has LED ringed headlights, short overhands and gaping grille. However, this is a model that’s separate from the rest of the MINI line-up, such as the raked windscreen, the low-slung body and the flowing ‘Touring’ line that runs from ahead of the front wheels all the way to the rears. The body was handcrafted from sheets of aluminium by stylists at Touring Superleggera.
It is made from the same hi-tech carbon fibre-reinforced plastic used in BMW’s all-electric and hybrid i3 and i8 models. The MINI Superleggera’s has all-electric powertrain. A MINI insider said: “If we are only going to sell 15,000 a year of a certain model, we should make more of an effort to ensure it jumps off the road as something different, but still identifiably a MINI.”
As for what will complete the rest of the MINI line-up, a saloon for China is possible along with a practical MPV-style model. We’re expecting the new sports car to be introduced in late 2015, where it will be looking to take on models like the new Mazda MX-5. Engines will be carried over from the standard MINI line-up, with the 189bhp 2.0-litre turbo from the Cooper S almost certain to feature. Three-cylinder petrols and diesels could also be offered, along with a flagship JCW variant boasting around 220bhp.
